Dispenser for Dispensing Semi-Solid Substances

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing butter, margarine, lubricant, adhesive, or other semi-solid substance. The dispenser comprises a body member and cap member which together enclose the substance when being dispensed. The dispenser further comprises a piston member that is manually actuated to advance the substance out of the dispenser and onto a desired food or surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to soft-solid or semi-sold substance dispensers and more particularly a butter dispenser for receiving a stick of butter, storing the stick of butter, and when in use enabling the user to gradually dispense the butter by manually actuating a piston using one or more fingers.

Description of Relevant Prior Art

Butter is an ancient and widely used condiment, food ingredient, and food preparation substance. Butter is semi-solid, maintaining its shape when refrigerated and at room temperatures and melting between 32-35° C. (90-95° F.). A variety of devices have been created to facilitate dispensing the substance that, as a result of its physical characteristics, can be unwieldly to directly manipulate.

One such device is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,036 entitled “Dispenser for Stick Solids.” Depicted there is a single-use cylindrical dispenser that is adapted to be filled with a semi-liquid substance from the bottom in inverted fashion, the semi-liquid substance being retained by a concave removeable cap also located within the device. The '036 device discloses both a push dispensing embodiment and a thread shaft/elevator dispensing embodiment, the former including a cup-shaped plunger that maintains a seal against the inner walls of the cylindrical device. The '036 device incorporates a sealing cap that, together with the plunger sealing the cylindrical container base, creates an air-tight seal designed to prevent the semi-liquid turned semi-solid product from drying out.

Another such device is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,083 also entitled “Butter Dispenser.”Depicted there is a device that uses a sleeve in which advancing mechanism resides. Like in one embodiment of the '036 device, a knob, connected to a threaded shaft, is turned within the sleeve that elevates a platform therein. A stick of butter is inserted into the sleeve and onto the platform, and when in use the user turns the knob, elevating the platform and stick of butter resting thereon. Not only does the '083 device contain several parts, but its utilization of a thread shaft elevator mechanism complicates user operation. Because the thread shaft cannot be displaced from inside the device, it will act to laterally eject and radially compress any semi-solid substance that is inserted into the sleeve cavity. In the typical case of a user inserting a stick of butter into the '083 device, the user will experience a plug of butter being ejected from the device in the general shape of the thread shaft, creating a mess. In order to reload the '083 device with butter, the user must unenviably rotate the elevator mechanism back down to the base of the device.

Another such device is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 9,084,499 entitled “Butter Dispenser.” Like the '083 device, the '499 device relies on a thread shaft elevator mechanism to dispense the semi-solid substance, the thread shaft displacing the semi-solid substance that would otherwise reside within the device's interior cavity. The '499 also discloses a retractable dispensing mechanism that receives downward pressure to disengage, in cantilever fashion, the elevator from the thread shaft allowing the elevator to move back down into the device. Once at the bottom of the device, a set of valleys reengage the dispensing mechanism to the thread shaft. Clearly, however, an issue arises where the semi-solid substance is firmly lodged within the device (e.g., cold butter) off the bottom and the force needed to advance it within the cavity is greater than that needed to disengage the dispensing mechanism from the thread shaft. In such a situation, the user would be left waiting for the device and its content to change temperature or take the extra step of heating the device.

For semi-solid dispensing devices, the prior art generally discloses devices which require two hands to operate, cannot easily be filled (and re-filled) with product of any texture, or are comprised of many components increasing item cost and reducing overall product reliability. A need exists for a robust hand held device that enables its user to quickly dispense semi-solid substances with minimal manual activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is generally the object of this invention to provide a dispenser for semi-solid substances that may be used with one hand. The invention provides a hollow body member, a piston member, and a hollow cap member. The piston member resides within the hollow body member, forming the bottom of the hollow body member interior cavity. The hollow body member is adapted to contain butter, margarine, coconut oil, waxes, adhesives, lubricants, or any other semi-solid substances. The length of interior cavity of the hollow body member is limited to that of a human finger such that a human user may evacuate the entirety of the hollow body member interior cavity's contents using just his or her finger(s). This obviates needing to use another implement (e.g., a knife) to exhaust the dispenser's contents, and allows for the user to simply reload the dispenser with a quantity of a substance as it may be acquired by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures and drawings, incorporated into and forming part of the specification, service to further illustrate the present invention, its various principles and advantages, and varying embodiments. It is to be noted, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate only typical embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope as the present invention may admit other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary dispenser in assembled configuration.

FIG. 2a is a cross sectional view of an exemplary dispenser, in assembled configuration, holding an “eastern” stick of butter prior to manual actuation.

FIG. 2b is a cross sectional view of an exemplary dispenser holding an “eastern” stick of butter prior after complete manual actuation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary dispenser holding a “western” stick of butter being applied to food.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary dispenser as it may be used to apply cooking product to a cooking surface.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary dispenser as it may be used to grate irregular portions of cheese.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of an exemplary dispenser. A hollow body member 100 contains a piston member 170, forming an interior cavity 120. An open bottom end 130 has a lip portion 140 through which the piston member 170 can be accessed. The interior cavity 120 comprises the space between the piston member surface 175, the interior cavity wall 126, and the hollow body member open top end 110. The interior cavity length 125 is measured longitudinally along the interior cavity wall 126. A friction means 220 secures the hollow cap member 190 onto the hollow body member 100. A vent orifice 230 exists on the hollow cap member 190 to allow air or other gas to escape the interior cavity 120 when the hollow cap member 190 is placed onto the hollow body member 100.

FIG. 2a shows a cross sectional view of an exemplary dispenser prior to dispensation. A hollow body member 100 as an interior cavity 120 occupied by an “eastern” stick of butter 182. A piston member 170 resides within the hollow body member 100, the “eastern” stick of butter 182 contacting the piston member surface 175 and hollow body member interior cavity wall 126. The piston member 170 abuts the open bottom end 130 and its lip portion 140. A hollow cap member 190, having a vent orifice 230, encloses around the hollow body member open top end 110, engagement means 290 securing the hollow cap member 190 to the hollow body member 100 by engaging the cam portion 280. A user prepares to press one finger 150 against the piston member 170 and along the interior cavity length 125.

FIG. 2b shows a cross sectional view of an exemplary dispenser after complete dispensation. The user has fully inserted one finger 150 into the hollow body member 100 past the lip portion 140 and through the open bottom end 130. The one finger 150 advanced the piston member 170 along the hollow body member interior cavity length 125 and against the interior cavity wall 126, evacuating the hollow body member interior cavity 120. The piston member surface 175 and is advanced proximate to the hollow body member open top end 110.

The interior cavity length 125 is critical. Typical substances which may be dispensed—e.g., butter—are typically acquired in quantities which conform to standardized sizes. “Eastern” sticks of butter, also known as “Elgin,” are rectangular prisms with dimensions approximately 5″×1.25″×1.25″. “Western” sticks of butter, also known as “cubes,” are rectangular prisms with dimensions approximately 3.5″×1.5″×1.5″. Certain imported varieties of butter, while larger, have rectangular prism geometry. If the interior cavity length is too long, then an average person will not be able to advance the entirety of the dispensed substance out of the interior cavity 120 as the user's finger will be insufficient to advance the piston member surface 175 to the lower body member open top end 110. If the interior cavity length 125 is too short, certain preconfigured substances will be insufficiently contained an incapable of being effectively dispensed. Exemplary dispensers will be utilized by users' index and middle fingers which, according to various anthropometric data range in lengths from 50 mm and 100 mm (Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics and the Design of Work, Third Edition By Stephen Pheasant, Christine M. Haslegrave; Pheasant S. Bodyspace—Anthropometry, Ergonomics and Design. London: Taylor and Francis, 1988; Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate: Specific Anthropometric and strength data for people with dexterity disability (URN 02/743). Department of Trade and Industry, London).

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary dispenser being used on food. A user has inserted one finger 150 into the hollow body member 100 through the open bottom end 130 and past the lip portion 140. The user's finger 150 is pressed against the piston member 170, the piston member surface 175 forcing a “Western” stick of butter 183 out of the hollow body member interior cavity 120, through the open top end 110, and against a slice of toast 217.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary dispenser being used in a food preparation capacity. A user has inserted two fingers 160 into the hollow body member 100 through the open bottom end 130 and past the lip portion 140. The user is applying a 11 b block of butter 184, common in the food service industry as a means by which a cooking surface 216 is prepared to cook food. The user's fingers 160 are advancing the piston member 170 through the interior cavity 120, forcing the 11 b block of butter 184 out of the open top end 110 and against the cooking service 216. A translucent window 240 and graduation marks 250 enable the user to determine how much of the 11 b block of butter 184 is being dispensed.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary dispenser being used to grate cheese. A hollow body member 100 having a circular cross section contains irregular chunks of cheese 185 contained within the interior cavity 120. The user inserts one finger 150 into the hollow body member 100 through the open bottom end 130, past the lip portion 140, and against the piston member 170. The piston member surface 175 forces the cheese 185 out of the open top end 110 and against a cheese grater 218.

As described above, the dispenser may be used to dispense a variety of semi-solid or amorphous substances, taking advantage of its interior cavity to contain the substance and its piston member to advance it out of the interior cavity in controlled fashion. Despite the interior cavity length being associated with a range of human finger lengths, the remaining two dimensions of the dispenser can be adapted to a variety of geometries, enabling a user to controllably dispense with one hand a variety of semi-solid or amorphous substances as they may be prepackaged or otherwise acquired by the user.

Dispenser components may be made from any robust, heat resistant, and/or food safe materials such as high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel, and treated glass, bamboo, and wood. Because of the wide variety of materials from which the dispenser components may be made, the dispenser may dispense a variety of: (i) food products, such as butter, margarine, coconut oil, frosting, shortening; (ii) waxes; (iii) adhesives; (iv) ointments; and (v) lubricants. Because the dispenser may be used with one hand and is compatible with nearly all semi-solid and/or amorphous solids, it can be used to accurately and precisely dispense materials in typically out-of-reach places, or in places where the user may only be able to place an extended arm; the user would not have to retract the dispenser and use another hand to advance the to-be-dispensed substance (e.g., as necessary with screw-type dispensers), or require additional space around the dispenser to use a ratcheting or other substance advancing mechanism outside of the immediate spatial envelope containing the substance. Further, a user would not have to be restricted to using the packaging in which a semi-solid substance is acquired and can pre-dispense the semi-solid substance into the dispenser for more convenient dispensation.

Although the above detailed descriptions relate to specific preferred embodiments as the inventors presently contemplate, it will be understood that the invention in its broad aspects includes mechanical, chemical, and functional equivalents of the elements and features described herein. Various details of design and construction may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention which is set forth in the following claims. Other embodiments, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art and which practice the teachings herein set forth, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semi-solid substance dispenser, the semi-solid substance dispenser comprising: A hollow body member having an open top end and an interior cavity having at least one wall, the hollow body member further having an open bottom end, the hollow body member open bottom end having a lip portion, the open bottom end adapted to receive at least one human finger, the hollow body member interior cavity having a length between 50 and 100 millimeters; A piston member arranged for travel along the interior cavity to provide upon manual actuation by the at least one human finger dispensing pressure upon the substance, the piston member further arranged to be prevented from passing through the hollow body member open bottom end by the lip portion; A hollow cap member arranged to removeably cover the hollow body member open top end, the hollow cap member further comprising a securing means to secure the hollow cap member to the hollow body member.
 2. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hollow body member, piston member, and hollow cap member are made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel.
 3. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 2, wherein the hollow body member and hollow cap member are each further comprised of a tube of rectangular cross section.
 4. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 3, wherein the securing means comprises a friction means whereby the hollow cap member frictionally engage the hollow body member open top end, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice.
 5. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 3, wherein the hollow body member open top end further comprises a cam portion, the securing means comprising an engagement means whereby the hollow cap member snapably engages the hollow body member open top end cam portion, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice.
 6. A semi-solid substance dispenser, the semi-solid substance dispenser comprising: A hollow body member having an open top end and an interior cavity having at least one wall, the hollow body member further having an open bottom end, the hollow body member open bottom end having a lip portion, the open bottom end adapted to receive at least one human finger; the hollow body member interior cavity having a length between 50 and 100 millimeters; the hollow body member being made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel, the hollow body further comprised of a tube of rectangular cross section; A piston member arranged for travel along the interior cavity to provide upon manual actuation by the at least one human finger dispensing pressure upon the substance, the piston member further arranged to be prevented from passing through the hollow body member open bottom end by the lip portion, the piston member being made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel; A hollow cap member arranged to removeably cover the hollow body member open top end, the hollow cap member further comprising a securing means to secure the hollow cap member to the hollow body member, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice, the hollow cap member being made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel, the hollow cap member further comprised of a tube of rectangular cross section.
 7. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 6, wherein the securing means comprises a friction means whereby the hollow cap member frictionally engage the hollow body member open top end, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice.
 8. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 6, wherein the hollow body member open top end further comprises a cam portion, the securing means comprising an engagement means whereby the hollow cap member snapably engages the hollow body member open top end cam portion, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice.
 9. A semi-solid substance dispenser, the semi-solid substance dispenser comprising: A hollow body member having an open top end and an interior cavity having at least one wall, the hollow body member further having an open bottom end, the hollow body member open bottom end having a lip portion, the open bottom end adapted to receive at least one human finger; the hollow body member interior cavity having a length between 50 and 100 millimeters; the hollow body member being made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel, the hollow body further comprised of a tube of rectangular cross section, the hollow body member further comprising a translucent elongated window along one side thereof substantially along the length thereof, the hollow body member further comprising graduation marks proximate the translucent elongated window; A piston member arranged for travel along the interior cavity to provide upon manual actuation by the at least one human finger dispensing pressure upon the substance, the piston member further arranged to be prevented from passing through the hollow body member open bottom end by the lip portion, the piston member being made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel; A hollow cap member arranged to removeably cover the hollow body member open top end, the hollow cap member further comprising a securing means to secure the hollow cap member to the hollow body member, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice, the hollow cap member being made of heat resistant food safe materials comprising high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, treated wood, treated bamboo, toughened glass, and stainless steel, the hollow cap member further comprised of a tube of rectangular cross section, the hollow cap member further comprising a translucent elongated window along one side thereof substantially along the length thereof, the hollow body member further comprising graduation marks proximate the translucent elongated window.
 10. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 9, wherein the securing means comprises a friction means whereby the hollow cap member frictionally engage the hollow body member open top end, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice.
 11. The semi-solid substance dispenser of claim 10, wherein the hollow body member open top end further comprises a cam portion, the securing means comprising an engagement means whereby the hollow cap member snapably engages the hollow body member open top end cam portion, the hollow cap member further comprising a vent orifice. 